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Fans of MAD Magazine will be familiar with the escapades of
these mischievous spies and some might even recall their
well-received 1980s video game. Unfortunately, this offering bears
little resemblance to the original game.

The action has transformed from two-dimensional side-scrolling
to a third-person 3D platform. The only familiar elements to
survive intact are the likenesses of the characters. The humorous
slapstick of the duelling secret agents in the original is sadly
missing and the game lacks depth or innovation.

Sneaking around and subterfuge are a spy's forte, but these
skills have been replaced by standard running, jumping and
blasting.

In story mode, players complete a list of objectives for each
level, such as disabling devices, setting booby traps and fighting
bosses. Tasks are varied, but objectives are often unclear, leaving
players wandering through large environments looking for clues as
to what to do next.

The two other modes are remakes of the original game, where
players race against other spies to find hidden items inside safes
within countless rooms. Again the aim is to lay traps, while
avoiding them yourself and battling any spies you encounter. But
conflicts are few and most time is spent searching for safes.

More lasting fun can be found in the five multiplayer modes as
the action can be more unpredictable and frantic against up to
three friends. But poor level design again results in hide-and-seek
rather than satisfying battles.

Even at this budget price, this is a disappointing use of
well-loved characters.

Endgame: The lack of humour and pedestrian
platform chores are reason enough to stick with the duo's
entertaining comic-book adventures.

MX vs ATV Unleashed

Runs on: Xbox, PS2

Price: $79.95

Classification: G8+

Rating: * * *

Not content having created some of the most memorable arcade
off-road racing titles to date, Rainbow Studios has combined two of
their best games into one mighty showdown.

MX Unleashed and ATV Offroad Fury have been combined but with
extra vehicles, tracks and game modes. In addition to racing dirt
bikes and four-wheelers, riders can also hop into utes, monster
trucks, golf carts, dune buggies and even aircraft.

The fun begins when pitting the different machines against each
other. For example, a 50cc mini-bike fares surprisingly well in a
field of monster trucks thanks to carefully balanced vehicle
physics.

For purists, the championship mode provides a structured race
season, plus single events including hill climbs, supercross,
nationals, waypoint races and freestyle arenas. Mini challenges are
also worth completing as they unlock extra modes and vehicles.

While this is an arcade racer, skill still plays a big role.
Shifting the rider's weight, proper use of the clutch and
preloading the suspension are necessary for clearing jumps and
effective cornering.

The impressive list of more than 50 courses includes indoor and
outdoor circuits plus wide-open deserts, forests and mountainsides.
Fortunately for Xbox owners, the option of online racing offers
fierce competition.

Endgame: The challenge is not so much opponents
but trying every race.

Exact revenge on schoolyard bullies in Bully from Grand Theft
Auto publishers Rockstar. As a troubled youngster at a reform
school, you can stand up to pubescent tormentors or strict teachers
by playing hilarious pranks. Described as "brutally funny", Bully
will hit PS2 and Xbox before Christmas.

Devious hackers have already cracked PlayStation Portable's UMD
format, with the first pirated PSP games appearing on the internet.
Fortunately for Sony, the high cost of sufficiently large memory
sticks will discourage most pirates.

A co-creator of Age of Empires, Brian Sullivan, is working on a
role-playing game set in mythical ancient Greece and Egypt. Titan
Quest lets PC players battle terrifying monsters at locations
including the Parthenon, the pyramids of Egypt and the Hanging
Gardens of Babylon.

Sega plans to serve its tennis simulation on the PSP. Virtua
Tennis World Tour features professional players and the chance to
create your own champ. Wireless support enables mixed doubles. -
Jason Hill